Just a few miles from the Virginia border in the northeastern corner of the state lies the quickly growing city of Kingsport, Tennessee. Originally chartered in 1822, Kingsport acquired its name from a boatyard on the Holston River known as William King's Port. This city has enjoyed steady growth for many years, and was even named an "All-American City" in 1999.
Kingsport is home to Eastman Chemical Company, which employs nearly 7,500 people. The fastest growing segment of the economy is healthcare, which has seen more than 8,000 new employs in the Kingsport MSA since 1990.
Kingsport is consistently one of the most affordable places to live (www.bestplaces.net), yet offers exceptional services (internationally accredited police and fire, for example). Kingsport was recently named the 3rd highest house appreciation rate in the U.S. by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Most housing is single family residential, but there is a growing trend of downtown loft development.
The real estate market of Kingsport has plenty to offer the discerning buyer. Condominiums and townhouses are available from under $100,000 to more than $200,000. Single-family detached homes are available from well under $100,000 to more than $625,000 for large estate properties. There are a variety of styles to choose from too - ranch, colonial, contemporary, traditional, Cape Cod , farmhouses, log homes and Victorians.
Many homes are located on lots with outstanding views and well-manicured lawns, while others boast large wooded lots. Some include all the extras like fireplaces, swimming pools, Jacuzzis and whirlpool tubs. Lakeside and riverfront properties offer scenic water views and accessible docks. Land for custom building is readily available from $15,000 to more than $475,000.
More than 1,000,000 sf of retail space has been added since 2000. Plans are underway for a $35 million renovation to the regional shopping mall (Kingsport Town Center). Kingsport has a widely-acclaimed public art initiative, which has seen the installation of numerous sculptures in public spaces mostly in the downtown area.
Kingsport has a rich history of educational excellence. The original town educational plan was developed by Columbia University (1917) and the standards have been maintained since. For example, Kingsport was recently named in Newsweek's list of Top 4 percent of American Public High Schools. The local marching band is the largest in Tennessee with nearly 400 students. They are the Governor's Cup Champions and have routinely represented Tennessee in the Macy's, Rose, and Fiesta Parades. A higher education initiative began in 1999 whereby all graduating high school seniors are eligible for two free years of tuition to the local community college. As a result, the college age population increased 26% between 2000 and 2007 (Census Bureau). Kingsport was recently noted in a Johns Hopkins report that cited Tennessee as posting the highest gains in higher education, citing Kingsport as a model.
Kingsport has always been an innovator, and that started in the early 1900's. Kingsport was one of the first cities to implement a school system based on a model developed at Columbia University. It was also the first city with a modern urban design and was among the first municipalities to have a city manager form of government. Kingsport soon became known as the "Model City" and has kept its progressive reputation to this day.
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Kingsport offers a multitude of attractions and recreational opportunities. Residents have access to one hundred square miles of water, 1,500 miles of shoreline and numerous caverns and hiking trails to explore.
For outdoor activities, visitors can head to Warrior's Path State Park. Named for its proximity to an ancient Cherokee war and trading path, the 950-acre park combines nature and wildlife conservation with entertainment. Kingsport has a 1400-member senior center, a 3,500 acre nature preserve, a brand new planetarium (one of only 2 in North Amerca), a $12mm aquatic center planned, and an 8-mile greenbelt trail traversing the community.
Bays Mountain Park, owned and operated by the city of Kingsport, encompasses several thousand acres of untouched woodlands. Surrounded on all sides by mountains, the park features a 44-acre lake, a nature center and museum, a 3,000-acre outdoor classroom and a wolf habitat. From wildflower viewing in the spring to cross-country skiing in winter, outdoor recreation is popular year-round at Bays Mountain Park.
River Front Park, also known as Boat Yard Park, is a National Historic Landmark and is home to the Long Island of the Holston River. A swinging footbridge connects visitors to picnic tables, a fishing pier, playground equipment and a five-mile bike and footpath. Water lovers can seek out one of Kingsport's numerous other bodies of water, including Holston, Patrick Henry and Boone lakes. The lakes are prime for fishing, boating, jet skiing, swimming and parasailing.
In 2008, Kingsport was one of three cities to receive the Siemens Sustainable Communities Award through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Civic Leadership Center. Kingsport recently won an "Ozzie" Award for obtaining the first LEED certified publicly-funded higher education building in Tennessee.
Kingsport has a 3,500 nature preserve and planetarium on Bays Mountain and is currently assembling nearly 5,000 acres of wetlands along creekways throughout the city. The City government is also pursuing energy efficiencies by use of "on call" trash collection (using GPS technology). Kingsport is also a multi-year award winner for Keep America Beautiful and Tree City USA. The local watershed received a near perfect score by www.bestplaces.net <http://www.bestplaces.net>
Kingsport hosts a variety of unique celebrations year-round. Fun Fest - a nine-day community event featuring a beach party and balloon races - kicks off in July, while September brings both the Fall Festival and the Downtown Kingsport Art and Crafts Festival. Kingsport starts the year off right with First Night, a family-oriented downtown New Year's Eve celebration featuring singers, magicians, comedians, clowns, storytellers, and various other artists and entertainers. Kingsport's largest annual event is Fun Fest (www.funfest.net), which has consistently been named a Top 20 Southern Festival. New events include "Bluegrass on Broad" on Thursday nights (May-Sep) and "Twilight Alive" on Friday nights for the non-bluegrass fans. Kingsport is widely known as "the volunteer city in the Volunteer State". Kingsport's United Way collected more than $4,000,000 in pledges during 2008 in a year when most campaigns struggled to meet their goals.
Kingsport is known for its high quality of life. The Kingsport Public School System has received the Governor's A+ award for community commitment to excellence in education.
The city itself has received international awards for public information products and offers its residents a comfortable standard of living, thanks to its large industrial base.
With a delightful mix of steady growth, economic stability and Southern hospitality, Kingsport is a perfect hometown for families and businesses alike. If Kingsport is in your future, then it certainly is looking bright!
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